40 THE BOOK OF THE ROSE CHAP. 
and exposed to the four winds of heaven. After all, 
then, it is better to be moderately high and exposed 
than to be too sheltered and too low, particularly if 
the shelter consist of growing trees or shrubs 
which stand too close. But, if thus unsheltered, 
extra and constant care must be given in the growing 
season to tying and supporting : the majority of the 
H.P.s should be grown as dwarfs, and stout bamboo 
stakes should support the standards. 
In many cases, however, the would-be grower of 
Roses has no choice of a situation, but has to make 
the best of the ground at his disposal; and as I 
have to grow my own Roses in just such a situation 
as I have been describing as the worst of all—viz. 
at the bottom of a valley, near a river, hardly above 
the level of the water-meadows, only thirty feet 
above sea-level, on the stony gravel of an ancient 
sea beach, and moreover surrounded by large trees— 
I can fully sympathise with any one in such a 
position. The disadvantages of low ground can 
only be surmounted by choosing the very highest 
you have—a little rise will tell—and by much care 
in protecting the Teas through the winter (see 
Chap. IV). As for the big trees, if they must not 
be cut down, their shade and their robbing power 
must be utterly avoided, or success will be im- 
possible. We may generally calculate that the roots 
will reach to a distance equal to the height of the 
tree, though some are worse robbers than others, 
and a specially wide berth should be given to Elms. 
As to the cutting through the tree-roots before they 
reach the beds, the labour will generally be found 
inadequate to the result; a really deep trench, kept 
open, might answer in some cases, but in many it 
